Sustainability is very subjective, what works for me, might not work for you. However, in the wild west of nutrition many in the “medical” aka in an advising position will say don’t do this particular nutritional path because “it is not sustainable.”
First question, how do they know that pertains to you? Second question, have they tried it themselves? Third question, what gives them the authority to prevent you exploring it before you’ve tested whether it is or isn’t a good personal strategy?
Let’s explore a real-life story. Jane Doe, female over 60 comes to me with severe hyperlipidemia, high triglycerides, low HDL, high blood pressure, overweight, excess waist circumference, high blood glucose, in a nutshell poor metabolic health. As reference only 12% of US adults have good metabolic health, and it might be even worse according to Tufts University at 7%.
The depressing figures above beg the question, your personal judgement on sustainable should not prevent individuals from trying to improve their health. OK, I digress back to our Jane Doe story. Once upon a time this individual was an elite high-caliber athlete, Olympian swimmer, yes you read that right, on the Olympic Swimming Team.
Post her swimming career and then fast forward to decades later had progressively struggled with her weight and overall health. The advice given to her is what hundreds, thousands, millions have heard, eat less, and move more. Followed by “you must be cheating because you continue to gain weight.” Thus, blame the individual. Cruel, inhuman and without any regard for her health and longevity.
The result of that could have been a lifetime of medications, lack of energy, low self-esteem and reliance on a medical system that had completely failed her. She took the initiative to say, what I’m doing isn’t working. We developed a partnership, coach and coachee, on this “unsustainable” nutritional lifestyle, otherwise labeled low carb/ketogenic/carnivore.
Let’s cut right to the chase. Jane Doe is 6 months down the road, has vastly improved her health status with ALL her metabolic markers now in a healthy range! Two highlights, waist circumference from above 40” to below 30” and a weight loss of 72 lbs. Incredible accomplishments and what a role model for her family, children and grandkids!
In her words:
“Strictly diet, dedication, sacrifice and good choices through your guidance and expertise coaching.”
She now has the tools to choose her own path forward on the sustainability trail. This exploration put her in control of her health, not a medical system that only saw her as a number who did not “follow their advice strict enough.”
One would think if I did something for 30 years and it didn’t work maybe the professionals (term used loosely) would work with her to find other options. But our current system can’t see beyond their ivory towers of failure.
So yeah, you say 6 months is not real sustainability. I say, that doesn’t matter, she now has choices, before she had 1 choice, a life of feeling miserable.
How long must sustainability be?
If you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know my story, if not have a look here. Cliff notes version, I’ve been following this lifestyle, with some minor adjustments along the way since 2007. It all began with the work of Gary Taubes and his original article “What If It Has All Been A Big Fat Lie?” Followed by his book Good Calories, Bad Calories and the rest is history.
This led to becoming a “recovering vegetarian” using therapeutic carbohydrate restriction as my (and husband’s) pathway, see his story here. Animal products being a main source of our nutrition, see Why I Eat Meat here. Our carbohydrate intake is more or less around the 40 grams per day, some more, some less.
Fast forward to now, 16 years later, whether you call it low-carb, ketogenic or carnivore, it works for our house. Our N = 2 experiment keeps us energized, weight stable, metabolically fit, fully satiated, and modestly speaking, look pretty OK for our ages, 66 (Self) and 55 (Partner).
I ask all those stating this lifestyle isn’t sustainable to look beyond your dogma blinders and recognize, it might very well be sustainable for others, maybe not for you but your opinion, should not prohibit someone else from exploration.
Additionally, what is the alternative for many individuals? A lifetime of medications, obsessive counting calories, basically starving their bodies, simply to be able to have that bagel and orange juice, hours on the treadmill in the hope of burning a few extra calories? Is that sustainable? If that works for you, be my guest. If not step out of the way for others to regain their health.
As our house rolls on to year #17 of unsustainable, we look forward to celebrating with a steak! Kudos to brave individuals who decide to take a chance with coaching!
